2024 NBA Draft - Chicago Bulls select Matas Buzelis with the 11th pick

[kulaz3000]

There is just no way he is going to be playing right away, he is skinnier than I initially thought. He already admitted to nothing having the stamina during his time with Ignite which affected his shooting, but he is going to get bounced around if he doesn't gain some more strength. He is rail thin.

[sco]

There is just no way he is going to be playing right away, he is skinnier than I initially thought. He already admitted to nothing having the stamina during his time with Ignite which affected his shooting, but he is going to get bounced around if he doesn't gain some more strength. He is rail thin.

He does look like such a kid. That said, I can see him in a battle for minutes with Terry and Phillips. If he can beat those two out, which isn't a given, I can see him finding 15MPG. Honestly, I'm rooting for him, but also want Phillips to take a step forward this season. He was on a nice upward trajectory before he got hurt.

[Chi town]

He will be playing from day one.
Starting be end of season.
Competitive losing is the theme this season.

[madvillian]

There is just no way he is going to be playing right away, he is skinnier than I initially thought. He already admitted to nothing having the stamina during his time with Ignite which affected his shooting, but he is going to get bounced around if he doesn't gain some more strength. He is rail thin.

Gonna take time. It took Chet about three years just to get into adequate. Hard to be 19-21 and going against guys that are grown men that have been in a pro training environment for a quarter or hell even over half your own life.

That said, it shouldn't preclude him from having a solid rookie season and the Bulls should try and protect him when they can. We're going nowhere fast if the rook needs a rest night, sit him.

[MrSparkle]

Well, we'll see what AK's new training/medical staff does.

So far the past decade, the results have been abysmal with most guys. Particularly in the injury department. Don't think it was a bad idea to hire new people.

I guess Terry and Ayo have been unscathed. Maybe cause they hung out with Demar more, whose routines obviously work.

But I hope they don't put Matas on some high-gain weight routine, where he misses half the season cause his ankles can't support the frame or something. Or worse yet, he's just too slow to take advantage of his length. But with Phlilips and Pat both ending the season in walking boots, I feel nervous. I've heard a lot of emphasis with this the AK regime on getting in peak shape, when honestly, most great players in this league struggle with their fitness/conditioning for a few years - the talent/skills should come first (Luka, Jokic, Curry, Tatum, Chet, Wemby). I guess it has to do with Billy's (and Boylen's) obsessive defensive focus, which I personally think is cool and all, but there's an offensive way to play. Will be interesting to see if Donovan can change gears the way Carlisle did in Indiana.

Feel like you need to let these guys play on their frames and develop skills and positioning. Over time get really high muscle % and maximize foot-speed and injury prevention. Pat got in great shape after the 2nd year injury, looked like a beast, and still played like complete ****. Where's his basketball repertoire? I know it might be more player to player, but it's crazy how his offensive game has not developed much at all since his rookie pandemic season as a late teenager.

For me, I have low rookie expectations for Matas. Hope to be surprised, but between his Ignite experience, Billy's rookie leash, unless Pat's injury lingers to the start of the season, I don't necessarily expect Matas to contribute much. Especially if Zach's on the squad playing SF (or PF , with Ayo/Coby/Giddey). Really hope the culture changes to be more offensively minded. I can remember a time when Billy started, we were a losing team, but we ran fast and played offensively.

[madvillian]

2 years ago Matas looked superb. General consensus was that "If someone wants to build a perfect SF in the lab - that's Matas for you".
If 2024 draft was held a year ago, with the same players, I never saw Matas lower than #4 pick. Year ago everybody evaluated him between #1 and #3 (depending on the teams drafting).
This year I never even imagined him dropping bellow #8. #5 - #6 pick had highest percentages. Remember how "happy" Knicks fans were on drafting day when they got Porzingis? Right No, I don't expect Matas to change everyone's perception of him like Kristaps did.
What happened last season with the Ignite? Ignite sucked badly. Matas had problems with the ankle, missed couple months. Why teams perform poorly? Head coach, roster, woo-doo...Usually it's all of the above. Matas is not a guard, nor Jokic or Sabonis. He doesn't initiate offense. On a crappy team, not in a perfect physical shape himself, to play against other crappy teams - not a happy story. I pay zero attention and importance to his stats. I was just surprised a bit.
From Matas perspective it doesn't matter much that he was picked only as #11. He had bad last season for himself - that's the outcome. For Bulls? Bulls had no chance to get him if current draft was held a year ago. Bulls got a guy who can handle the ball. Very tall and very long for his SF position. Matas is very quick, has bbal in his blood. Good IQ. Matas will not crash and burn. At least, he will be a reliable rotational guy for many years who plays 20+ minutes efficiently. I can easily see Matas as an All-Star too. He has all necessary ingredients. The time now came for Matas to get serious and for fans to wait.

I think it was just the reality of a very talented HS kid, who was also about 5 inches taller than everybody to boot, even against good competition, was going against grown men.

There's usually only like 1 prospect or maybe two a year that wouldn't fair similar. I think you nailed how in the end it doesn't really matter as we start his NBA career. From here on out it's simply how he works and develops.

[WindyCityBorn]

I don’t expect much from him year one. If he give 10 minutes of high energy play per game that would be great.

[coldfish]

IMO, this is the team that gave Patrick Williams 28mpg as a rookie that he absolutely did not earn. I actually like Buzelis more as a prospect. As such, I see the Bulls just handing Buzelis 20mpg+ of entitlement minutes.

I think the first year is going to be rough. That said, I just hope for energy and a few spurts of good play.

[sco]

IMO, this is the team that gave Patrick Williams 28mpg as a rookie that he absolutely did not earn. I actually like Buzelis more as a prospect. As such, I see the Bulls just handing Buzelis 20mpg+ of entitlement minutes.

I think the first year is going to be rough. That said, I just hope for energy and a few spurts of good play.

Let's put aside Pat's shortcomings for the moment, he came into the league a with a slightly more complete game, but more importantly, an NBA body. That said, if history is a teacher here, I think that handing a rookie pick a big role as rookie usually causes these guys to diminish their development internal drive and they have more of sophomore slump. It also depends on where the team is contention-wise, so I think giving Matas 10-12MPG to start the season is good. Let him earn his way up to 20-22 by the end of the season.

[MrSparkle]

IMO, this is the team that gave Patrick Williams 28mpg as a rookie that he absolutely did not earn. I actually like Buzelis more as a prospect. As such, I see the Bulls just handing Buzelis 20mpg+ of entitlement minutes.

I think the first year is going to be rough. That said, I just hope for energy and a few spurts of good play.

For context, Lauri and Otto were often injured that season, so his competition was Hutchison and Valentine, esp. with Sato and Temple usually playing guard. Pat also primarily played SF.

I don’t know if he didn’t earn it. Sometimes feel like that Pat and up tempo Bulls team was the a better functioning unit. The Vuc trade messed the build up, a lot.

I only see Matas playing 20+ if injuries happen, he’s surprisingly really ready, or more trades put us in the tank zone.

[coldfish]

IMO, this is the team that gave Patrick Williams 28mpg as a rookie that he absolutely did not earn. I actually like Buzelis more as a prospect. As such, I see the Bulls just handing Buzelis 20mpg+ of entitlement minutes.

I think the first year is going to be rough. That said, I just hope for energy and a few spurts of good play.

For context, Lauri and Otto were often injured that season, so his competition was Hutchison and Valentine, esp. with Sato and Temple usually playing guard. Pat also primarily played SF.

I don’t know if he didn’t earn it. Sometimes feel like that Pat and up tempo Bulls team was the a better functioning unit. The Vuc trade messed the build up, a lot.

I only see Matas playing 20+ if injuries happen, he’s surprisingly really ready, or more trades put us in the tank zone.

That's not how I recall it.

That team had Thad Young, Daniel Gafford, Garrett Temple, etc. who were all better than Williams getting less minutes. BD loved the 3 guard lineups and despite that, would sit Satoransky to get Williams in the game.

It was over the top entitlement minutes. IMO, we are going to see the same thing this year with Buzelis.

[DuckIII]

It was over the top entitlement minutes. IMO, we are going to see the same thing this year with Buzelis.

I sure hope so.

[jordanwilliams6]

After the Patrick Williams development years, I’m most excited by a rookie that seems to have utmost confidence in himself to work hard and develop into something great.

Time will tell.

[MrSparkle]

IMO, this is the team that gave Patrick Williams 28mpg as a rookie that he absolutely did not earn. I actually like Buzelis more as a prospect. As such, I see the Bulls just handing Buzelis 20mpg+ of entitlement minutes.

I think the first year is going to be rough. That said, I just hope for energy and a few spurts of good play.

For context, Lauri and Otto were often injured that season, so his competition was Hutchison and Valentine, esp. with Sato and Temple usually playing guard. Pat also primarily played SF.

I don’t know if he didn’t earn it. Sometimes feel like that Pat and up tempo Bulls team was the a better functioning unit. The Vuc trade messed the build up, a lot.

I only see Matas playing 20+ if injuries happen, he’s surprisingly really ready, or more trades put us in the tank zone.

That's not how I recall it.

That team had Thad Young, Daniel Gafford, Garrett Temple, etc. who were all better than Williams getting less minutes. BD loved the 3 guard lineups and despite that, would sit Satoransky to get Williams in the game.

It was over the top entitlement minutes. IMO, we are going to see the same thing this year with Buzelis.

Well, you are right that Billy is a weird as hell coach with his rotations. He consistently plays highly negative lineups for large minutes, and does not explore highly positive lineups for any more than short stints. To the point whether you wonder he's intentionally tanking, obeying AK's minute demands, or just the most stubborn coach in the NBA. I thought it made sense given we were essentially a tank job in 20/21. But he's kept up that practice the last few years... and Yeah, hopefully Matas joins the club.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

IMO, this is the team that gave Patrick Williams 28mpg as a rookie that he absolutely did not earn. I actually like Buzelis more as a prospect. As such, I see the Bulls just handing Buzelis 20mpg+ of entitlement minutes.

I think the first year is going to be rough. That said, I just hope for energy and a few spurts of good play.

Let's put aside Pat's shortcomings for the moment, he came into the league a with a slightly more complete game, but more importantly, an NBA body. That said, if history is a teacher here, I think that handing a rookie pick a big role as rookie usually causes these guys to diminish their development internal drive and they have more of sophomore slump. It also depends on where the team is contention-wise, so I think giving Matas 10-12MPG to start the season is good. Let him earn his way up to 20-22 by the end of the season.

I agree with the comment about having an NBA body. That's probably a big deal. Wasn't Pat able to somewhat guard guys like Lebron in his rookie season? Or did that start to happen in subsequent years?

[coldfish]

As a side note, someone brought up that Matas was playing against grown men last year. I was looking at the G league rosters and they are right. Its basically a bunch of 23 to 33 year old men who were 2nd round picks at one point.

It will be interesting to see how things play out with Matas. Scoot didn't do well. Hopefully that's a one off.

[Stratmaster]

For context, Lauri and Otto were often injured that season, so his competition was Hutchison and Valentine, esp. with Sato and Temple usually playing guard. Pat also primarily played SF.

I don’t know if he didn’t earn it. Sometimes feel like that Pat and up tempo Bulls team was the a better functioning unit. The Vuc trade messed the build up, a lot.

I only see Matas playing 20+ if injuries happen, he’s surprisingly really ready, or more trades put us in the tank zone.

That's not how I recall it.

That team had Thad Young, Daniel Gafford, Garrett Temple, etc. who were all better than Williams getting less minutes. BD loved the 3 guard lineups and despite that, would sit Satoransky to get Williams in the game.

It was over the top entitlement minutes. IMO, we are going to see the same thing this year with Buzelis.

Well, you are right that Billy is a weird as hell coach with his rotations. He consistently plays highly negative lineups for large minutes, and does not explore highly positive lineups for any more than short stints. To the point whether you wonder he's intentionally tanking, obeying AK's minute demands, or just the most stubborn coach in the NBA. I thought it made sense given we were essentially a tank job in 20/21. But he's kept up that practice the last few years... and Yeah, hopefully Matas joins the club.

I will go with "the most stubborn coach in the NBA"

[GoBlue72391]

There's almost no chance Buzelis doesn't play at least 10 MPG from the jump.

From all accounts, the FO is thrilled that he fell to us at 11 and he's a young raw project player with a high ceiling. He needs to play to develop. Having him sit on the bench or toil in the G League for most of the season isn't going to help him, plus it looks like we're going to be taking a step back this season (not that we were good in the first place), so there's literally no reason not to play him.

[TheJordanRule]

IMO, this is the team that gave Patrick Williams 28mpg as a rookie that he absolutely did not earn. I actually like Buzelis more as a prospect. As such, I see the Bulls just handing Buzelis 20mpg+ of entitlement minutes.

I think the first year is going to be rough. That said, I just hope for energy and a few spurts of good play.

Let's put aside Pat's shortcomings for the moment, he came into the league a with a slightly more complete game, but more importantly, an NBA body. That said, if history is a teacher here, I think that handing a rookie pick a big role as rookie usually causes these guys to diminish their development internal drive and they have more of sophomore slump. It also depends on where the team is contention-wise, so I think giving Matas 10-12MPG to start the season is good. Let him earn his way up to 20-22 by the end of the season.

I agree with the comment about having an NBA body. That's probably a big deal. Wasn't Pat able to somewhat guard guys like Lebron in his rookie season? Or did that start to happen in subsequent years?

Yeah, I remember Chet Holmgren was built like Matas in his rookie year, and that Chet's body broke down almost immediately in preseason year playing against NBA competition for the first time. Chet got a season ending injury before the NBA season gates were ever opened. Matas desperately needs to hit the weight room.

[madvillian]

As a side note, someone brought up that Matas was playing against grown men last year. I was looking at the G league rosters and they are right. Its basically a bunch of 23 to 33 year old men who were 2nd round picks at one point.

It will be interesting to see how things play out with Matas. Scoot didn't do well. Hopefully that's a one off.

As I said in I think this thread, it took Chet 3 years to really get up to just adequate.

As for Matas and Scoot, it helps that Matas won't be expected to be a ball dominant lead guard. Scoot had a ton of red flags. He's still super young but looking at Scoot and Jalen Green it hasn't gone that great for guys that are ball dominant and go the G league route. Probably would be better to go play in college and get that discipline of a system in pressure games.